Sehnaoui: Jamming of Arabsat coming from Ethiopia
February 17, 2012 01:45 AM
The Daily Star
BEIRUT: Preliminary investigations into the jamming of Arabsat satellite
transmission shows that it is originating from Ethiopia, Telecommunications
Minister Nicolas Sehnaoui said Wednesday, calling on Arabsat's operator to
secure new frequencies for its transmission in Lebanon.
"Arabsat told us that the source of tdhe jamming is Ethiopia and it handed
us a copy of their complaint they have passed to Ethiopian authorities on
this matter," said Sehnaoui.
Speaking to reporters during a visit to a local satellite station in Mount
Lebanon's Jouret al-Balout, Sehnaoui said that the political atmosphere in
the region is likely to be behind the jamming of certain satellite
operators.
"The political atmosphere in the region could push some countries to take
such a step and start jamming on some operators," Sehnaoui said.
Several Lebanese channels and the Qatar-based Al-Jazeera have been jammed in
the past year, and the frequencies of Arabsat and Nilesat network providers
have been jammed since the pro-democracy uprisings and ensuing unrest in
Libya and Egypt.
"There needs to be a permanent solution to this jamming problem," said
Sehnaoui, adding that contacts are ongoing with the administration of
Arabsat to assign a new frequency for their transmission in Lebanon.
"Lebanon should be a [safe haven] for the re-broadcasting of satellite
networks," Sehnaoui added.
Sehnaoui, who was accompanied by members of the ministry's Telecoms
Regulatory Authority, said the installation of the fiber optics network in
Lebanon would greatly improve the telecoms network in the country.
"The installation of the fiber optics network will end in October, and it
will help in the development of this sector," said Sehnaoui.
But he reiterated the need to cooperate with Arabsat and Nilesat in
providing new frequencies to re-broadcast their channels. "Satellite
networks should take the initiative to ensure new frequencies for the
Lebanese channels because the jamming might be related to the political
problems the region is going through."
Read more:
http://www.dailystar.com.lb/News/Local-News/2012/Feb-16/163438-sehnaoui-jamm
ing-of-arabsat-coming-from-ethiopia.ashx#ixzz1mfl17h5y
(The Daily Star :: Lebanon News ::
http://www.dailystar.com.lb)
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Received on Fri Feb 17 2012 - 15:32:41 EST
